Airlines are well-aware that introducing a new aircraft model into their fleet is a great opportunity to create buzz in the market.

Qatar Airways is the perfect example, receiving a huge amount of media attention for its Boeing 787 months before the Dreamliner was even introduced into its fleet.

And perhaps we’ll witness a similar strategy for its forthcoming Airbus A380.

Earlier today, Airbus issued a nice photograph taken from its Hamburg facility, which showed the vertical tail section of Qatar Airways’ first A380.

I’ve included the photo on this page – as you’ll see, it has already been painted with the airline’s trademark oryx logo.

The painting was completed earlier this week and the assembly of the airline’s first A380 is set to begin this month, for delivery in early 2014.

“The distinctive Qatar Airways logo is comprised of a violet oryx with silver streaks and the paint was applied over a period of 10 days,” Airbus stated in a press release.

Qatar Airways will become the eleventh operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in 2014. The airline has firm orders for ten A380s and will operate the aircraft on its most premier routes.